Rays vs Orioles predictions
If you’re watching the Tampa Bay Rays this season, you already know they bring speed and contact to pretty much every game. With Zack Littell set to start on the mound, the Rays should get a steady few innings—Littell’s generally good for right around five frames with a handful of strikeouts. Jonathan Aranda has been absolutely raking lately, and there’s no reason to think he’ll cool off against the Orioles. I picture Aranda notching another hit or two, and if Junior Caminero gets into one, don’t be surprised to see yet another home run from the powerful third baseman. Yandy Diaz is a model of consistency in the order, so you can just about pencil him in for a couple of productive at-bats, likely adding at least a hit and possibly a run scored, too.
Switching over to Baltimore, all eyes will be on Gunnar Henderson after his fireworks performance in the last game—four hits is nothing to sneeze at. He’s locked in right now, and I fully expect him to keep the hot streak alive with another multi-hit game. Cedric Mullins has quietly been a sparkplug as well, so it wouldn’t shock me to see him reach base a couple of times with a bit of power thrown in for good measure—think a couple of hits and maybe an RBI. Ryan O’Hearn is another bat that’s been consistent for Baltimore, and if the top of the order sets the table, he could cash in with a big run-producing at-bat. Zach Eflin takes the hill for the O’s and he’s been steady this year; look for him to go about five innings, keep the score close, and keep the offense in the game.
When you stack all this up, it feels like we’re in for a tight one at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Rays have the edge in terms of top-to-bottom lineup depth and speed—they’re leading MLB in steals and seem to always have runners in motion. But Henderson’s current form is hard to ignore, and the Orioles have managed to play the Rays tough this season, holding the lead in the season series so far. If Baltimore’s bats can keep pace with that Rays offense, there’s a real shot at an upset. Still, Tampa Bay’s balance and relentless style make them the slight favorite to come away with the win in this divisional showdown. What’s your take—do you trust hot streaks or the steady hand of a well-oiled roster?
